Splitboard Mountaineering

Want to take your backcountry splitboarding skills to the next level?
Our new Mount Baker Splitboard Mountaineering Course is the perfect course for the already experienced backcountry splitboarder who is interested in exploring splitboard mountaineering in glaciated terrain. It is also suited as preparation for multi-day tours that are not hut supplied. The course takes place on the north side of Mount Baker on the Coleman Glacier. Geared for any who have a passion for the backcountry and a desire to explore further.

It is hard to imagine a better course setting than the heavily glaciated terrain of the Coleman, Roosevelt and Deming Glaciers. Over the course of the three days you will also get an opportunity to summit Mount Baker. Taught by our Splitboarding Guide, Jere Burrell, this is a learn-on-the-go course with a full curriculum. Prior splitboarding touring experience and good fitness are a prerequisite.

We have partnered with Weston Backcountry to offer free splitboard setups for you to demo during our splitboard courses! There is a limited number available so please contact matt@westonsnowboards.com as soon as you register for one of our courses to reserve your board!

Intinerary:Day one: We will meet in the little town of Glacier, WA and commute up the Glacier Creek Road to the vicinity of the Heliotrope Ridge trailhead. We might have to walk a mile or so on the road before we get to climb up to the Hogsback Camp via old growth forest or the upper reaches of Glacier Creek. Either way we will make our camp at around 6000 feet. This should give us enough time to cover the following topics.• Revision of the basics of a splitboard touring course• The difference between splitboard touring and splitboard mountaineering explained• Equipment specific to splitboard mountaineering• Mapwork and time calculations reviewed•The basic function of a glacier explainedDay two: After a leisurely start we will move camp to a spectacular camp on the Coleman Glacier at around 7200 feet. Becoming efficient at braking down and setting up camp is part of the course and can prove invaluable on future multi day touring adventures. In the afternoon we will work on the following:• Crevasse formation and crevasse fall prevention• Glacier travel on a splitboard• Roped travel on splitboard - uphill and downhill• Snow anchors in a splitboard mountaineering setting• Crevasse rescue for splitboard mountaineering• Self rescue for splitboard mountaineeringDay three: From our camp we climb up the Coleman Glacier under the North Face of Colfax Peak to the Coleman Deming Col and onward to the summit via the Roman Wall. There should be enough time during the climb to cover the following course topics:• Rappelling • Basic snow climbing• White-out navigation in crevassed terrain• The principles of short-roping• Elaborate rescue sled "construction"• Improvised rescue sledDay Four: This day is reserved a weather day or a great tour across the Coleman and Roosevelt Glacier to the Mazama Col. This should really illustrate what glaciated ski touring is all about. We also have the option to practice the topics listed below before we head back down to the car via Glacier Creek.• Beacon search reviewed• Multiple beacon search• Avalache safety and incident prevention reviewed• Emergency bivouac constructionThe course takes place on the north side of Mount Baker on the Coleman Glacier. It is hard to imagine a better course setting than the heavily glaciated terrain of the Comeman, Roosevelt and Deming Glacier. Over the course of the four days you will also get an opportunity to summit Mount Baker. This is a learn on the go course with a full curriculum. Prior ski touring experience and good fitness are a prerequisite.

Pro Ski and Mountain Service is our retail specialty store. It has been located in North Bend, WA since 1999.

The past trips and courses have had a large influence on what we sell. Many of our Pro Guiding customers come on trips and courses with gear they purchased from our store. Not only do we want our clients to have the right gear for the job; we also receive direct feedback from them while they are using it in the field. Trust us - if the gear does not work - we won't sell it.

Should I tip my guide? And how much should I tip them? Although tipping is not a requirement it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your course or trip cost or flat price tip that you are comfortable with.

Get the Gear
Our retail store Pro Ski and Mountain Service has been run successfully for over twenty years and if you get outfitted by us, we can guarantee you that you will have the right gear for your course or trip.